Facilitating the configuring of communications environments, and a mapping tool therefor

ABSTRACT

Configuring of a communications environment is facilitated. A mapping tool is provided that aids in the configuring of various components of a communications environment, such as an input/output (I/O) subsystem of the environment. Data generated from an order process and a logical configuration definition are used as input to the mapping tool. The tool performs mapping and generates as output a physical configuration definition, and optionally, one or more reports. The mapping tool has a manual function, as well as an automatic function.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates, in general, to managing communicationsenvironments, and in particular, to facilitating the configuring of acommunications environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The configuring of a communications environment is typically a complexand tedious task, especially for large or involved environments. Forexample, to configure an input/output (I/O) subsystem of acommunications environment, in which the I/O subsystem has hundreds oreven thousands of communications adapters, takes a great deal of effortand is error prone.

Adding to the complexity of configuring is a desire to minimize the lossof connectivity to data. That is, in many instances, it is desirous toavoid single points of failure or single points of repair, in which theloss of a resource causes the loss of connectivity to certain data.

Although some strides have been made in facilitating the configuring ofcommunications environments, further enhancements are needed. Forexample, a need exists for a capability that enables the automaticmapping of physical identifiers of resources in an environment tological identifiers of the resources.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantagesare provided through the provision of a method of facilitatingconfiguring of resources of a communications environment. The methodincludes, for instance, automatically mapping a first identifier of aresource of a communications environment to a second identifier of theresource, wherein the first identifier is usable by hardware to identifythe resource and the second identifier is usable by a program of thecommunications environment to identify the resource.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a mapping tool isprovided. The mapping tool includes, for instance, a first inputincluding one or more physical definitions, the one or more physicaldefinitions including one or more physical identifiers of one or moreresources of a communications environment; a second input including oneor more logical definitions, the one or more logical definitionsincluding one or more logical identifiers of one or more resources ofthe communications environment; and mapping logic to map a physicalidentifier of the one or more physical identifiers to a logicalidentifier of the one or more logical identifiers, wherein the physicalidentifier is used by hardware of the communications environment toidentify a resource associated with the physical identifier and thelogical identifier is used by a program of the communicationsenvironment to identify the resource.

System and computer program products are also described and claimedherein.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniquesof the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the inventionare described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimedinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, andadvantages of the invention are apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a configuration environmentincorporating and using one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts details related to the relationships between variouscomponents of the configuration environment of FIG. 1, in accordancewith an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts one embodiment of the logic employed by the mapping toolto configure a communications environment, in accordance with an aspectof the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts one embodiment of the logic associated with availabilitymapping offered with the mapping tool, in accordance with an aspect ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 depicts one example of a configuration in which failure of aresource causes total loss of data on a particular device;

FIG. 6 depicts one example of a configuration in which failure of aresource does not cause total loss of data on a particular device, inaccordance with an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 7 depicts one embodiment of the logic associated with manualmapping offered with the mapping tool, in accordance with an aspect ofthe present invention; and

FIGS. 8 a-8 c depict one embodiment of communications environmentconfigured using one or more aspects of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a capability isprovided for facilitating the configuring of communicationsenvironments. In one example, a mapping tool is employed to aid in theconfiguring. The configuring can be of many different resources;however, in the embodiment described herein, the configuring is of aninput/output (I/O) configuration of the communications environment.

One embodiment of a configuration environment incorporating and usingone or more aspects of the present invention is described with referenceto FIG. 1. A configuration environment 100 is used to facilitate theconfiguring of one or more communications environments. The environmentsto be configured are varied and include, for instance, computing unitshaving or being coupled to input/output (I/O) subsystems. In oneparticular example, a communications environment based on thez/Architecture and including a multiple channel subsystem (MCSS)facility offered by International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk,N.Y., is configured.

Configuration environment 100 includes, for instance, a user unit 102 incommunication with a configuration unit 104, which is further coupled(via, for instance, a local area network (LAN)) to another configurationunit 106 executing a mapping tool 108. User unit 102 provides input toconfiguration unit 104, and includes, for instance, a user terminal, aworkstation, etc. Configuration unit 104 is, for instance, a mainframebased on the z/Architecture offered by International Business MachinesCorporation, Armonk, N.Y., and includes, for instance, an operatingsystem, such as the z/OS operating system or z/VM operating system,offered by International Business Machines Corporation. Further, in oneexample, configuration unit 104 executes a hardware configurationdefinition (HCD), which is used to provide data to and receive data fromthe mapping tool and to aid in configuring, as described in furtherdetail below. HCD is provided as part of the z/OS or z/VM operatingsystem, and is described in, for instance, an IBM publication entitled“z/OS Hardware Configuration Definition User's Guide,” PublicationNumber SC33-7988-03, May 2003, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

Configuration unit 106 is, for instance, a workstation, such as aThinkPad notebook offered by International Business MachinesCorporation, a desktop computer or other unit, which is capable ofexecuting mapping tool 108. One example of the mapping tool is describedbelow, and in “zSeries 990 CHPID Mapping Tool User's Guide,” IBMPublication No. G28-6825-00 (June 2003), which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. The mapping tool includes logicused to facilitate the configuring of a communications environment. Inone example, the mapping tool is used to configure an I/O configuration.For instance, it is used to map physical identifiers of I/O resources tological identifiers of those resources. Although many resources may bemapped, in the example provided herein, communications adapters, such aschannels, are mapped. For example, physical channel identifiers (PCHIDs)are mapped to logical channel identifiers (CHPIDs).

A PCHID is, for instance, a 16 bit value that is assigned to a physicalchannel and used by the hardware of a machine to identify a specificchannel. The manner in which the hardware identifies a channel isindependent of the way it is identified by software. The software (e.g.,operating system) does not use the PCHID, but instead, uses a CHPIDmapped to the PCHID. This enables one physical location to berepresented by different values. PCHIDs are further described in U.S.patent application “Multiple Logical Input/Output Subsystem Facility,”Brice et al., Ser. No. 10/436,021, filed May 12, 2003, and in U.S.patent application “Method, System And Program Products For IdentifyingCommunications Adapters Of A Computing Environment,” Brice et al., Ser.No. 10/436,385, filed May 12, 2003, each of which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

Further details regarding the interaction between the various componentsof configuration environment 100 and an overview of the mappingcapability are described with reference to FIG. 2. A user at user unit200 provides one or more user definitions 202 to a hardwareconfiguration definition 203. In one example, the one or more userdefinitions include one or more of the following logical definitions:one or more channel path definitions (including CHPIDs) that indicatethe number and type of channels and may or may not include PCHID values;one or more control unit definitions defining the control unitsassociated with the CHPIDs; and/or one or more device definitions. Thedefinitions are validated for correctness based on defined configurationrules (e.g., size of values, etc.), and stored in a work input/outputdefinition file (IODF) 204.

The work I/O definition file includes information for one or moreprocessors and is structured as a set of records organized into treesthat are anchored off of an IODF header record (IHR). The trees are, forinstance, balanced binary trees with offsets in each record to realizethe chaining possibilities for the left and right subtrees. This enablesa fast search and add and delete operations to the data. Further detailsregarding an IODF are described in U.S. patent “Method And System ForManaging An Operating System Definition Of A Dynamically Modifiable I/OConfiguration,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,654, issued on Jun. 15, 1993, whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Using the work IODF, the hardware configuration definition builds 206 asemi-production IODF 208. The semi-production IODF is based on theformat of a work IODF. While building the semi-production IODF, the I/Oconfiguration is validated according to defined I/O configuration rulesexcept that missing PCHID values are tolerated. The semi-production IODFis not considered a production IODF, since it does not necessarilyinclude the PCHIDs. When the configuration is validated, a status of“Validated Work IODF” is set in the IHR record. This status is resetwith a change in the IODF. For each processor configuration, aworld-wide unique token 210 is stored in a processor record (PRP) of theIODF. It is used to ensure that during the process of assigning PCHIDvalues, the contents of the IODF are not changed.

From the semi-production IODF, the I/O configuration is exported 211 tothe workstation executing the mapping tool. The export function is usedto generate one or more input/output configuration program (IOCP)statements. In one example, the IOCP statements include one or moreCHPID statements, in which one or more of the statements may havemissing PCHID information; one or more control unit (CNTLUNIT)statements and/or one or more I/O device (IODEVICE) statements. Varioustechniques, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP), or PersonalCommunications (PCom) offered by International Business MachinesCorporation can be used for the exporting. In response to the exporting,token 210 is written to the IOCP deck.

The exported IOCP statements with missing PCHIDs 212 is taken as input214 to a mapping tool 216. The I/O configuration token is passed withthe IOCP statements. Also input 218 to mapping tool 216 is a CFReport220. The CFReport is an output of an order process for a machine of thecommunications environment. The report includes a binary file thatrepresents the physical description of the final machine to be ordered.In one example, the report is a byproduct of a customer conferring withan account team and describing the type of desired machine (e.g., themodel, number of channels of particular kinds, etc.). Together thecustomer and account team determine the I/O configuration, memory,number of processors, etc. The CFReport is the report sent tomanufacturing to be used as a guide to build the machine.

The report is built using, for instance, e.config tool and includesvarious components. One of the components of the report is the type andphysical location, including the physical channel identifier valueassigned to that location, of the I/O features to be provided in themachine. It details where each channel is going to be plugged into themachine, as well as other information.

The mapping tool takes the IOCP statements and CFReport as input andoutputs 222 IOCP statements 224, which include the original I/Odefinitions together with a PCHID value assigned to each external logicCHPID value. The original I/O configuration token is still included inthe generated statements.

In one example, IOCP statements 224 are then imported 226, via, forinstance, FTP or PCom, into semi-production IODF 208. The importfunction is used to accept the output of the mapping tool and to feedthe semi-production IODF with the needed PCHID information to allow theIODF to become a production IODF. The import is, in one embodiment,selective in that only certain information (e.g., PCHIDs) is imported.The hardware configuration definition verifies that the token passedwith the IOCP statements matches the token stored in the IODF andwhether the status of the work IODF is still “Validated Work IODF.” Ifso, and if the logical I/O definition described by the imported IOCPstatements does not differ from the IODF data, the hardwareconfiguration definition builds 228 a production IODF by writing thePCHID values into the IODF. In one example, the PCHIDs are written intothe channel path records (CPRs) of the IODF. If any of the checks fail,the import is rejected.

In the production IODF, the format is similar to that of the work IODF,but the data is additionally ordered in such a way that it allows ablocked sequential access to some of the records collected in a specificsection (e.g., operating system device information, Generic definitiontable, and Allocation definition tables) with a high performance withoutthe need to use the built in chaining possibilities. The I/Oconfiguration in a production IODF is validated according the I/Oconfiguration rules and includes the token for each processorconfiguration stored in the processor record (PRR). This token ischanged whenever a production IODF is built from a work IODF and theprocessor configuration has been changed previously in the work IODF.

The production IODF includes the data used to build an I/O configurationdata set (IOCDS) 232. In one example, IOCP builds a configurationdefinition from the input data statements in the IODF and stores thedefinition in an IOCDS, which is then ready to be used for the next IML,as an example. Various details regarding IOCP are described in “zSeriesInput/Output Configuration Program User's Guide for ICP IOCP,” IBMPublication No. SB10-7037-00, First Edition, June 2003, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

One embodiment of the logic associated with the mapping tool isdescribed with reference to FIG. 3. Initially, the mapping tool isdownloaded and installed on the workstation. In one example, the tool isdownloaded from Resource Links of International Business MachinesCorporation. The tool is started and a CFReport or hardwareconfiguration file 302, and/or a session file 304 are loaded, STEP 306.The hardware configuration file is, for instance, a file generated fromthe CFReport and is an alternate input for the CFReport which isavailable after the CFReport is sent to manufacturing; and a sessionfile is, for instance, a file that was previously saved for thisiteration of the logic and includes definitions that were already built.Additionally, IOCP statements 308 are loaded into the tool, STEP 310. Inone example, these IOCP statements are those statements exported usingHCD (see 212 of FIG. 2).

Thereafter, one or more validations are performed, STEP 312. One exampleof a validation includes, for instance, confirming that the logicalconfiguration definition can be accommodated by the proposed machine(CFReport). For instance, if the logical configuration calls for 200FICON channels, but the ordered machine only has 188 FICON channels, thetool informs the user of the discrepancy and does not continue until thediscrepancy is resolved. On the other hand, if the ordered machine is asuperset of the logical configuration, the tool informs the user of thediscrepancy, but allows the user to continue. By allowing the user tocontinue, the user can order and install more resources than isimmediately needed and defined.

As a further example, another precheck performed by the tool is hardwareresolution. Some logical CHPID types may be defined for differentphysical channels. For instance, a native FICON CHPID can be defined fora long wave or a short wave FICON channel. When there is a mix of thesephysical hardware types in a configuration, the tool presents the userwith these logical definitions and asks from which hardware types tochoose 314 the actual physical channel assignment. These validations notonly help ensure the proper operation of the tool and that valid outputwill be generated, but also helps the customer validate that theiractual order is complete and will fulfill the planned configuration. Ifone or more of the validations fails, then a warning and/or an error isdisplayed, STEP 316.

Validation is not only performed for new orders, but is also performedfor incremental orders (known as MES) wherein new channels may be addedor existing channels may be moved or removed. Whenever the logicaldefinition cannot be accommodated, the tool informs the user of thediscrepancy and does not continue.

The tool provides, in one embodiment, two functions: availabilitymapping and manual mapping. Availability mapping is an automatic featurethat provides added functions over manual mapping and uses morecomponents of the IOCP input. The availability function presents theuser with a complete list of the control units in the logicaldefinition. If this is an incremental upgrade (e.g., adding new channelsto an installed machine), the user is given the choice of only using thenew channels and control units for assignment or resetting the entireconfiguration. Help screens and secondary windows can be offered tofurther show the I/O devices that are behind the control units.

With manual mapping, the user is presented with a screen showing thephysical channels in the ordered machine and the logical definitionsthat have already been made. The user can then connect/associate thetwo, thus associating the physical channel (PCHID) with the logicaldefinition (CHPID). This presentation provides a more user-friendly wayof associating logical CHPIDs with physical channels (PCHIDs).

In this embodiment, a physical channel (PCHID) can be associated withonly one logical CHPID. Once a logical CHPID is assigned to a physicalchannel, the same logical CHPID is not shown on the screen as aselection for association with other physical channels. Also, onlylogical CHPIDs that support the channel type for a given physicalchannel are presented on the screen.

If CHPID/PCHID associations are made using availability mapping and theuser overrides those assignments using manual mapping, the tool warnsthe user of possible impact to availability assignments generated by theavailability mapping function.

The user decides whether to employ availability mapping or manualmapping by selecting the appropriate panel. Availability mapping isselected via an available panel 320 and manual mapping is selected via amanual remap panel 322. The logic associated with availability andmanual mapping is described below.

Regardless of which technique is chosen, subsequent to performing themapping a determination is made as to whether the assignments have beencompleted, INQUIRY 323. If there are more assignments to be performed,then a session file is created for later use, STEP 325. However, if theassignments are complete, then processing continues.

One or more reports are optionally generated, STEP 324, and thegenerated IOCP statements are exported 326 from the tool. If the IOCPstatements are incomplete, then a warning 328 is generated. Otherwise,the final IOCP statements 330 are stored. These IOCP statements arethose with the PCHIDs, which now can be imported back into the hardwareconfiguration definition (see FIG. 2) to be used to build a productionIODF and eventually to write the IOCDS.

Referring now to FIG. 4, one embodiment of the availability mapping isdescribed. The availability logic takes into account the physicalstructure of the processor being configured. For instance, in the caseof a z990 machine, this includes processor nodes, memory bus adapters(MBAs) within the nodes, Self Timed Interface (STI) connectors andcables, support cards in the I/O cage, the I/O cage itself, and the I/Ocards. All of these components can be single points of failure (SPOF)and/or single points of repair (SPOR). For instance, as shown in FIG. 5,a device 500, such as a storage device, is defined with two CHPIDs, ‘0A’and ‘BD’. Those CHPIDs are assigned PCHIDs 100 and 101, which are on thesame physical I/O card 502. This illustrates the poorest availabilityconfiguration. A failure of the I/O card, support card 504 (i.e.,STI-M), I/O cage 506, STI cable 508, MBA 510, or processor node 512 willcause total loss of the data on device 500.

Contrast the configuration of FIG. 5 with the configuration of FIG. 6.In FIG. 6, a device 600 using CHPIDs ‘0A’ and ‘BD’ is assigned to PCHID100 and PCHID 301. Now a failure in any of the previously namedcomponents will leave one of those CHPIDs still functioning. So, no SPOFor SPOR will cause total loss of the data on device 600. This type ofconfiguration is what the availability logic attempts to accomplish whenassigning PCHIDs to CHPIDs. That is, the availability logic searches foravailable channel ports for a given control unit that are dispersedacross several SPOF and SPOR, and finds the best balance of thosephysical channel ports to assign to a given logical CHPID.

Referring to FIG. 4, initially, the CFReport/hardware configuration fileand/or session file are loaded, STEP 400. The CFReport or hardwareconfiguration file includes the information in FIGS. 5 and 6, except forinformation relating to the CHPID and device (control unit).Additionally, the IOCP statements generated from the semi-productionIODF are loaded, STEP 402. The IOCP statements include the informationrelating to the CHPID and device (control unit). Validation is thenperformed, STEP 404. Examples of validation include, for instance,checking if there are enough physical channels to support the definedCHPIDs; ensuring that logical definitions with existing PCHIDs can beaccommodated by the proposed machine, either new or updated; retrievingthe PCHID assignment values from the CHPID statements; checking whetherthere is more hardware on order than required by the logicaldefinition—report to user; checking if some of the PCHIDs support morethan one physical channel type—prompt user to resolve; and retrievingpriorities stored in IOCP comments and apply to control units. If duringvalidation, an error is determined, INQUIRY 406, then the logicaldefinition may be modified, STEP 408, in which case processing continueswith STEP 402, and/or the order may be modified, STEP 410, in which caseprocessing continues with STEP 400.

On the other hand, if validation is successful, then a list of one ormore control units is displayed on an availability panel, STEP 412. Thelist of control units is selected from the input IOCP statements. Theuser may then assign priorities to the control units, STEP 414, whichare used in the mapping logic, as described below. Next, availabilityprocessing is selected by the user, STEP 416, and the mapping functionis initiated.

As part of the mapping function, the user is prompted to reset previousassignments, if desired, STEP 418. Thereafter, configuring takes place,which includes, for instance, assigning PCHIDs to CHPIDs, STEP 420. Forinstance, the tool finds the highest priority control unit indicated bythe user, interrogates the I/O channel types that attach to that controlunit and finds actual physical channels that meet both the logicalcharacteristics of the definition in the IOCP input (e.g., FICON channeltypes) and that are installed across multiple SPOF and SPOR. The bestchoice of physically installed channels are then assigned to thoselogical CHPIDS. The tool then moves to the next priority control unitand repeats the process. This is continued until the logical CHPIDs havephysical channels (PCHIDs) assigned to them.

Further details relating to the logic used by the availability mappingto assign PCHIDs to CHPIDs are described below. One objective of theavailability logic is to find physical paths to a control unit or groupof control units that span single-points-of-failure andsingle-points-of-repair. In assigning physical paths, it is desirable topreserve the most choices for subsequent control units, and this isaccomplished by trying to assign first from those resources with themost available channels.

The points of failure/repair considered in the below logic are:

-   -   1. The I/O card. In the case of intersystem channels (ISC),        first consider the ISC-M, then the daughter.    -   2. The domain, single point of failure within a cage. This        includes the eSTI-M card and STI cable.    -   3. The cage.    -   4. The MBA.    -   5. The Node.

With the following logic, physical channels (i.e., PCHIDs) are assignedto CHPIDs defined on the input IOCP statements, and the assignment isperformed on a channel type basis. In the following, the clause “a pathis assigned” indicates that the CHPID statement for one of the pathsdefined to the control unit has a PCHID keyword and value (for thephysical location) added. The logic is repeated for each control unit orset of control units, if the set has been given the same priority.

-   -   Availability Rule    -   Repeat for all Control Units ordered by their priority value        -   If this control unit or priority group contains mixed            channel types (e.g., ESCON & FICON or ICB's and ISC's),            determine the number of cards with available ports (e.g.,            physical channels) of each type.        -   Group the CHPIDs of same channel type        -   Order the groups with fewest number of available cards first        -   Using the type with the fewest number of available cards            first, follow the following logic. When assignment is            complete for that type return here and go to the next type            with the fewest available cards.    -   Repeat for all CHPID groups        -   Build the list of domains with ports available for channel            type        -   If number of CHPIDs are less than or equal to number of            domains, assign PCHIDs using “Use all domains” step.        -   If number of CHPIDs are more than number of domains, assign            PCHIDs to first “number of domain” CHPIDs using “Use all            domains” step, remaining CHPIDs should be assigned using            “Used all domains” step.    -   Use all domains        -   Search each domain in the configuration for the desired            channel type and collect the following information            -   Number of unused ports in the domain.            -   Number of cards, with available ports, in the domain.            -   The cage where this domain is located.            -   The MBA that is driving this domain.            -   The node that is hosting that MBA.        -   Sort the domain list with most available ports first. In the            case of a tie, order the domains with most cards first. If            still a tie, order the lowest number cage first. If this is            the second iteration of the logic for a mixed-type (e.g.,            ESCON and FICON) control unit, order those domains unused            (or least used) by the prior iteration higher regardless of            the number of ports in the domain.        -   As a domain is used in the following steps, remember the            number of times it was used and which cards within the            domain have been used. Also remember for which channel type            the domain was used.        -   If this is the first iteration of the logic for a given            CHPID type and if some of the CHPIDs of this type already            have PCHIDs assigned, account for those pre-assigned PCHIDs.            For each PCHID already assigned, search the domain list for            the domain owning that PCHID. If found, remove the owning            domain, and remember the cage, node, node.MBA, and card for            previously assigned PCHIDs just as if the logic had done the            assignment. Continue with the following steps using the            abbreviated domain list.        -   Divide the number of paths needed by the number of domains            in the list. If there's a quotient (other than zero), assign            one port from each domain to the CHPIDs on this control            unit(s). If a domain contains more than one card, use the            card with the most available ports. Continue the logic with            the “Used all domains” step. If quotient was zero, continue            with next step.        -   Assign a PCHID from each domain. If number of CHPIDs are            less than available domains, balance CHPIDs across cages,            nodes and MIBAs. First find the unique cage, node and MBA            combination, then node and MBA, and last unique MBA.        -   While performing the following assignments of paths to            ports, keep a memory of the cages, nodes, and node.MBAs that            have been used. This can be accomplished by keeping bit            masks for cages available, nodes available, and node.MBAs            available. “Available” means those components are in the            current list of domains that contains the correct type of            card.        -   Assign the firsts path to the card with the most ports            available in the top domain on the list and remove this            domain from the list. The cage, node, and node.MBA memory            (bits) are removed from being available.        -   As long as there are paths remaining, repeat the following            steps:            -   Search the list from the top for first domain with a                unique cage, node and MBA from those previously used. If                found, assign a path to the card with most available                ports and remove this domain from the list. The cage,                node, and node.MBA memory (bits) are also removed from                being available. Otherwise,            -   Search the list from the top for first domain with a                unique node and MBA from those previously used. If                found, assign the path to the card with the most ports                and remove this domain from the list. The node.MBA                memory (bits) are also removed from being available.                Otherwise,            -   Search the list from the top for the first domain with a                unique MBA (i.e., node.MBA) from those previously used.                If found, assign the path to the card with the most                ports and remove this domain from the list. The node.MBA                memory (bits) are also removed from being available.            -   As these searches and assignments progress, and all the                available cages in the list have been used once, reset                the memory of cages used. Likewise, once all available                nodes in the list have been used once, reset the memory                of the nodes used. Only those cages and nodes that have                an unassigned channel of the correct type should be                considered “available”.            -   This process concludes when all available node.MBAs have                been used or all the needed paths have been assigned to                physical ports.        -   When the above is complete, either all the paths have been            assigned, or each unique node.MBA should have been used            once. If there are still more paths to assign and there are            domains remaining in the list (means the same node.MBA has            been used more than once in plugging domains), reset the            cage, node used, and node.MBA memory and resume at the            “Balance CHPIDs across cages, nodes and MBAs” step.    -   Used all domains        -   Rebuild the domain list with cards which have not been used            yet (e.g., multiple cards of the correct type in a domain).            Sort the list so the domain with the largest number of ports            is first. If there are no domains in the list (i.e., a path            has been assigned to every card) start at the beginning (use            all domains).        -   Assign a PCHID from each domain, if number of CHPIDs are            more than domains, remaining CHPIDs should be assigned using            “Used all domains”. If number of CHPIDs are less than            domains, balance the CHPIDs across cages, nodes and MBAs.            First find the unique cage, node and MBA combination, then            node and MBA and last unique MBA. If there are still more            CHPIDs to be assigned, start at beginning.        -   Divide the number of paths remaining to be assigned by the            number of domains in the list. If there is a quotient (other            than zero), assign one path to the unused card with the most            available ports in each domain. If more paths need to be            assigned, resume at the “Used All Domains” step. Otherwise            quotient was zero and continue at the next step.        -   While performing the following assignments of paths to            ports, keep a memory of the cages, nodes, and node.MBAs that            have been used. This can be accomplished by keeping bit            masks for cages available, nodes available, and node.MBAs            available. “Available” means those components are in the            list of domains that contains the correct type of card.        -   Assign the first path to the unused card with the most ports            available in the top domain on the list and remove this            domain from the list. Remember the case, node, and MBA from            this domain. The cage, node, and node.MBA memory (bits) are            removed from being available.        -   As long as there are paths remaining, repeat the following            steps:            -   Search the list from the top for the first domain with a                unique cage, node, and MBA from those previously used.                If found, assign path to the unused card with most                available ports and remove this domain from the list.                The cage, node, and node.MBA memory (bits) are also                removed from being available. Otherwise,            -   Search the list from the top for the first domain with a                unique node and MBA from those previously used. If                found, assign the path to the unused card with the most                ports and remove this domain from the list. The node and                node.MBA memory (bits) are also removed from being                available. Otherwise,            -   Search the list from the top for the first domain with a                unique MBA (i.e., node.MBA) from those previously used.                If found, assign the path to the unused card with the                most ports and remove this domain from the list. The                node.MBA memory (bits) are also removed from being                available.            -   As these searches and assignments progress, once the                available cages in the configuration have been used,                reset the memory of cages used. Likewise, once available                nodes have been used once, rest the memory of nodes                used. Only those cages and nodes that have an unassigned                channel of the correct type should be considered                “available”.        -   When the above is complete, either all the paths have been            assigned, or each available card should have been used            exactly once. If there are still more paths to assign,            resume at the beginning (“Using all domains”), after            clearing all memory of nodes, cages, and cards used. Do not            clear the channel type memory.    -   Next Group    -   Next Control Unit

Once a given physical channel is assigned to a logical CHPID, thatassignment is fixed (until changed). If the same logical CHPID is usedin a lower priority control unit, the logic finds physical channels thatcomplement the previously assigned physical channel to assign to newlogical CHPIDs. This happens often in a configuration as a givenphysical channel can and should be used to access various data (i.e.,control units). Thus, the logic is versatile enough to recognize that,for instance, two of the logical CHPIDs in the current control unit havebeen previously assigned to physical channels, but two new logicalCHPIDs are defined for the control unit. Given this situation, the logicfinds two new physical channels that are on different SPOF and SPOR thanthe previously assigned CHPIDs.

When the tool cannot find an ideal balance of physical channel ports fora given control unit, it indicates that some of the physical channelsdo, indeed, have some SPOF or SPOR. These indications show where thereare potential SPOF or SPOR. For instance, if two logical CHPIDs had tobe assigned on the same channel card, a “C” will be indicated next tothose two CHPID numbers. Similar indications are provided for otherSPOF/SPOR. For instance, a “S” is indicated, if the channels to acontrol unit share the same STI; or a “N” is indicated in a multi-nodeconfiguration where all the channels are from the same node. The usercan then review its total control unit configuration, see where someinterfaces have SPOF or SPOR, and choose to either accept theconfiguration, re-prioritize the data, or possibly change theconfiguration by ordering additional channels, nodes, or cages toachieve the level of availability desired by the enterprise.

When the user is satisfied with the physical channel (PCHID) assignmentsto logical CHPIDs, output can be generated, STEP 422 (FIG. 4). The mainoutput is updated IOCP statements that include PCHID assignments for thelogical CHPID definitions. The output also includes, in one example,some special IOCP comment statements that recall the priorities assignedto the control units in the definition. These comment statements arerecalled, if the same IOCP input is used on a subsequent initiation ofthe tool. This allows previous work by the user to be preserved and onlynew priorities need be inputted to the tool. HCD provides a specialrepository for these comments, so if a subsequent export of IOCP inputstatements is requested from a semi-production IODF the comments will beregenerated for use by the tool.

For native IOCP users, the updated input statements are ready to be usedto configure the machine when it is installed. For HCD users, theupdated statements can be imported into the IODF that generated theoriginal input to the tool. The updated IODF can now be made into a fullproduction IODF and used to configure a new machine or reconfigure analready configured machine.

Further output from the tool includes, for instance, reports that willhelp the customer and support staff in understanding the logical CHPIDassignments made for physical channels, STEP 424. For instance, a CHPIDreport indicates the physical channels PCHIDs and associated logicalCHPIDs arranged by node and MBA. Physical channels belonging to a samecard slot are reported together. There is tabular depiction of physicalchannel placements which can be used by support personnel at the time ofcabling. A Control Unit report lists the priorities assigned by the userto each of the control units by, for instance, logical channel subsystemand intersects found, if availability mapping has been performed. A portreport simply lists the cages, and physical locations in a sortedfashion along with the logical definitions (CHPIDs) associated with thatlocation. Other reports include, for instance, a Fiber Quick Connect(FQC) report and a Fiber Cable Worksheet.

As described above, in addition to availability mapping, manual mappingmay be used. In one example, the user may switch between availabilitymapping and manual mapping and back again. One embodiment of the logicassociated with manual mapping is described with reference to FIG. 7.

In one example, the CFReport/hardware configuration file and/or sessionfile are loaded, STEP 700. Additionally, the IOCP statements generatedfrom the semi-production IODF are loaded, STEP 702. Validation is thenperformed, STEP 704. As examples, this validation includes checking ifthere are enough physical channels to support the defined CHPIDs—if not,flag error; for update or MES orders, checking whether the logicaldefinitions with existing PCHIDs can be accommodated by the proposedmachine; checking whether there is more hardware on order than requiredby the logical definition—if so, report to user; and checking whetherone or more of the CHPIDs support more than one physical channel—promptuser to resolve. If an error is encountered during validation, INQUIRY706, then the logical definition may be modified, STEP 708, andprocessing continues with STEP 702, and/or the order may be modified,STEP 710, in which case processing continues with STEP 700.

Returning to INQUIRY 706, if the validation is successful, then thephysical channels are displayed, STEP 712. In one example, the physicalchannels are displayed on a panel with the PCHID values. Additionally,the CHPIDs are displayed, STEP 714. In one example, when a physicalchannel is selected, the display shows only the logical CHPIDdefinitions that match the physical channel types that are available tobe assigned to the PCHID. In the example in which an environment isbeing configured that includes multiple channel subsystems (CSSs), theCHPIDs are grouped by CSS. In one example, a color scheme is used toreflect status.

Next, the user maps the logical definition to physical channel using amanual panel, STEP 716. Further, the tool creates the IOCP statementsreflecting the current mapping, STEP 718. Subsequently, the toolgenerates or prints reports, STEP 720. The output of the manual mappingis, for instance, IOCP statements 722.

One example of a communications environment to be configured by one ormore aspects of the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 8 a-8 c. Inone example, communications environment 800 is based on thez/Architecture and includes the multiple channel subsystem (MCSS)facility, offered by International Business Machines Corporation,Armonk, N.Y. The z/Architecture is described in an IBM publicationentitled “z/Architecture Principles of Operation,” Publication NumberSA22-7832-01, October 2001, and MCSS is described in U.S. patentapplication “Multiple Logical Input/Output Subsystem Facility,” Brice etal., Ser. No. 10/436,021, filed May 12, 2003, each of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

As one example, communications environment 800 includes a centralprocessor complex (CPC) 802 coupled to one or more input/output (I/O)devices 804 via one more control units 806. Central processor complex802 includes, for instance, one or more central processors 810, one ormore partitions 812 (e.g., logical partitions (LP)), a logical partitionhypervisor 814, and an input/output subsystem 815, each of which isdescribed below.

Central processors 810 are physical processor resources allocated to thelogical partition. In particular, each logical partition 812 has one ormore logical processors, each of which represents all or a share of aphysical processor 810 allocated to the partition. The logicalprocessors of a particular partition may be either dedicated to thepartition, so that the underlying processor resource 810 is reserved forthat partition; or shared with another partition, so that the underlyingprocessor resource is potentially available to another partition.

A logical partition functions as a separate system and has one or moreapplications and a resident operating system therein, which may differfor each logical partition. In one embodiment, the operating system isthe z/OS operating system, the z/VM operating system, the z/LINUXoperating system or the TPF operating system offered by InternationalBusiness Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y.

Logical partitions 812 are managed by a logical partition hypervisor814, which is implemented by licensed internal code running onprocessors 810. The logical partitions and logical partition hypervisoreach comprise one or more programs residing in respective partitions ofcentral storage associated with the central processors. One example oflogical partition hypervisor 814 is the Processor Resource/SystemManager (PR/SM), offered by International Business Machines Corporation,Armonk, N.Y. Further details regarding logical partitions are describedin, for instance, Guyette et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,903, entitled“Partition Multiprocessor Programming System,” issued on Jan. 14, 1986;Bean et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,541, entitled “Logical ResourcePartition Of A Data Processing System,” issued on Jun. 27, 1989; andKubala, U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,040, entitled “Method And Apparatus ForProviding A Server Function In A Logically Partitioned HardwareMachine,” issued on Oct. 8, 1996, each of which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

Input/output subsystem 815 directs the flow of information betweeninput/output devices 804 and main storage. It is coupled to the centralprocessing complex, in that it could be part of the central processingcomplex or separate therefrom. The I/O subsystem relieves the centralprocessors of the task of communicating directly with the input/outputdevices and permits data processing to proceed concurrently withinput/output processing. To provide communications, the I/O subsystememploys I/O communications adapters. There are various types ofcommunications adapters, including, for instance, channels, I/Oadapters, PCI cards, Ethernet cards, Small Computer Storage Interface(SCSI) cards, etc. In the particular example described herein, the I/Ocommunications adapters are channels (e.g., ESCON or FICON channels),therefore, the I/O subsystem is referred to herein as a channelsubsystem. However, this is only one example.

The I/O subsystem uses one or more input/output paths as communicationlinks in managing the flow of information to or from input/outputdevices 804. In this particular example, these paths are called channelpaths, since the communications adapters are channels. Each channel path816 (FIG. 8 b) includes a channel 817 of channel subsystem 815, acontrol unit 806, a link 818 (e.g., serial or parallel) between thechannel and control unit, and one or more I/O devices 804 coupled to thecontrol unit. In other embodiments, channel paths may have multiplecontrol units and/or other components. Further, in another example, itis also possible to have one or more dynamic switches as part of thechannel path. A dynamic switch is coupled to a channel and a controlunit and provides the capability of physically interconnecting any twolinks that are attached to the switch. Further details regarding channelsubsystems are described in Capser et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,484,entitled “Method And System For Pipelining The Processing Of ChannelCommand Words,” issued on Jun. 11, 1996, which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

A control unit may be accessible by the channel subsystem by more thanone channel path. Similarly, an I/O device may be accessible by thechannel subsystem through more than one control unit, each having one ormore channel paths to the channel subsystem. The control unit acceptscontrol signals from the channel subsystem, controls the timing of datatransfer over the channel path, and provides indications concerning thestatus of the device. The control unit may be housed separately or itmay be physically and logically integrated with the I/O device, thechannel subsystem, or a central processor.

The I/O device attached to the control unit may be designed to performcertain limited operations or it may perform many different operations.To accomplish its operations, the device uses detailed signal sequencespeculiar to its type of device. The control unit decodes the commandsreceived from the channel subsystem, interprets them for the particulartype of device, and provides the signal sequence required for theperformance of the operation.

In addition to one or more channels, a channel subsystem includes one ormore subchannels. Each subchannel is provided for and dedicated to anI/O device, or group of I/O devices, coupled to the program through thechannel subsystem. Each subchannel provides information concerning theassociated I/O device, or group of I/O devices, and its attachment tothe channel subsystem. The subchannel also provides informationconcerning I/O operations and functions involving the associated I/Odevice, or group of I/O devices. The subchannel provides a logicalappearance of a device or a group of devices to the program and is themeans by which the channel subsystem provides information aboutassociated I/O devices to the central processors, which obtain thisinformation by executing I/O instructions.

Further details regarding a channel subsystem are described withreference to FIG. 8 c. In one example, channel subsystem 815 (or otherI/O subsystem) is configured as a plurality of channel subsystem images820 (or other I/O subsystem images) each identified by a channelsubsystem image identifier (CSSID) (or other I/O subsystem identifier).In one example, the channel subsystem is configured, either bymodel-dependent means, in which configuration controls are used duringinitialization, or by use of appropriate dynamic I/O configurationcommands, as 1 to 256 channel subsystem images (MCSS). Each channelsubsystem image appears to the program as a complete channel subsystem.Each channel subsystem image may have from 1 to 256 unique channelpaths, thereby increasing the maximum number of channel paths that maybe configured to the channel subsystem from 256 to 65,536.

A channel subsystem image 820 includes, for instance, a multiple imagefacility (MIF) 822, which includes one or more (e.g., up to 16) MIFimages, each identified by a MIF image identifier (IID). The multipleimage facility allows each logical partition to achieve independentaccess to the channel paths, control units or I/O devices that areconfigured to and dynamically shared by multiple logical partitions.Various details regarding the multiple image facility are described inBrice, Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,851, entitled “Method And MeansFor Sharing I/O Resources By A Plurality Of Operating Systems,” issuedon May 9, 1995, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

In addition to a MIF, a channel subsystem image 820 also includes achannel path set (CPS) 824. Channel path set 824 includes, for instance,1 to 256 channel paths configured to one or more channel path images inthe associated MIF. Each channel path is identified by a channel pathidentifier (CHPID). Each channel path configured to a channel path setmay be unique from other channel paths configured to other providedchannel subsystem images. However, because as many as 256 channelsubsystem images may be provided, the CHPID values assigned to channelpaths in each of the channel path sets may not be unique. Therefore,each channel path is specified by a unique address formed by, forinstance, a concatenation of CSSID with the channel path identifierassigned to the channel path. The image id further identifies a channelpath image for each configured channel path.

Described in detail above is a capability for configuring communicationsenvironments. In one example, this capability includes a tool formapping PCHIDs to CHPIDs. The tool aids a customer in assigning logicalCHPID numbers to physical channels and to configure control units, sothat data is not on a single point of failure or single point of repair.As one example, the tool is a workstation based application that usesdata generated from a customer order and the customer's logicalconfiguration definition, and generates as output the physicalconfiguration definition and one or more reports. The reports help anowner of a configuration and support staff in understanding the logicalCHPID assignments made for physical channels.

As examples, the tool provides two functions: manual mapping andavailability mapping. With manual mapping, the user is presented with ascreen showing the physical channels in the ordered machine and thelogical definitions already made. The user can then connect/associatethe two, thus associating the physical channel with the logicaldefinition. With availability mapping, the user can prioritize theimportance of specific logical channels and then receive an automaticlogical to physical channel mapping, which minimizes any single point offailure or single point of repair within the environment. That is,automatic linkage of a logical definition of a channel to a physicalchannel, which is selected that best exploits the reliability,availability and serviceability of an environment. The linkage processis facilitated based on reports of both the logical and physicalchannels.

Advantageously, in one example, the output of the tool (e.g., the IOCPstatements with PCHIDs) is fed back into HCD, and thus, it is undercustomer control. It seeds the machine with relationships between theCHPID and physical location each time the machine is powered on with adifferent IOCDS. Therefore, the CHPID assignments are not “permanent,”since there is not, for instance, a diskette with the output being feddirectly into the machine at the time of installation, but instead canbe changed by the user.

The tool stores information in the IOCP file, so when a user comes backto the tool for the same processor, the user does not have to redo thework. It remembers over the life of the configuration prior workperformed using the tool.

Although the mapping tool is described with reference to mapping logicalchannel identifiers to physical channels, one or more aspects of thepresent invention can be used to configure other resources of thecommunications environment. Therefore, aspects of the present invention,as well as the mapping tool, are not limited to channels (or even othercommunications adapters).

Advantageously, the mapping logic is able to be used with many types ofenvironments, including, for instance, those environments that supportthe multiple channel subsystem facility and several hundred or thousandsof I/O channels. However, environments other than that described hereinmay be configured using one or more aspects of the present invention. Asone example, user unit 102 and communications unit 106 may be one andthe same unit. Other examples also exist. As a further example, anenvironment need not include the multiple channel subsystem facility.Many other types of environments may use the mapping logic describedherein. As yet a further example, a hardware configuration definitionneed not be used to produce the IOCP statements. The IOCP statements maybe generated by the user directly.

The capabilities of one or more aspects of the present invention can beimplemented in software, firmware, hardware or some combination thereof.

One or more aspects of the present invention can be included in anarticle of manufacture (e.g., one or more computer program products)having, for instance, computer usable media. The media has therein, forinstance, computer readable program code means or logic (e.g.,instructions, code, commands, etc.) to provide and facilitate thecapabilities of the present invention. The article of manufacture can beincluded as a part of a computer system or sold separately.

Additionally, at least one program storage device readable by a machineembodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machineto perform the capabilities of the present invention can be provided.

The flow diagrams depicted herein are just examples. There may be manyvariations to these diagrams or the steps (or operations) describedtherein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Forinstance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps maybe added, deleted or modified. All of these variations are considered apart of the claimed invention.

Although preferred embodiments have been depicted and described indetail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant artthat various modifications, additions, substitutions and the like can bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention and these aretherefore considered to be within the scope of the invention as definedin the following claims.

1. A method of facilitating configuring of resources of a communicationsenvironment, said method comprising: automatically mapping a firstidentifier of a resource of a communications environment to a secondidentifier of the resource, wherein the first identifier is usable byhardware to identify the resource and the second identifier is usable bya program of the communications environment to identify the resource. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the resource comprises a communicationsadapter.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the communications adaptercomprises a channel, the first identifier comprises a physical channelidentifier (PCHID) and the second identifier comprises a logical channelpath identifier (CHPID).
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein thecommunications adapter is of an input/output subsystem of thecommunications environment, the input/output subsystem being configuredas a plurality of input/output images.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinthe automatically mapping comprises automatically selecting the firstidentifier to be mapped to the second identifier from a plurality offirst identifiers, wherein the selecting takes into consideration adefinition associated with the second identifier.
 6. The method of claim5, wherein the selecting takes into consideration the availability of aplurality of resources associated with the plurality of firstidentifiers in selecting the first identifier to be mapped to the secondidentifier.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising choosing thesecond identifier for which mapping is to occur from a plurality ofsecond identifiers, said choosing being based on a priority associatedwith another resource coupled to the resource.
 8. The method of claim 1,further comprising providing as input to the automatically mapping aphysical description of one or more resources of the communicationsenvironment, said physical description comprising the first identifier.9. The method of claim 8, wherein the physical description is in areport generated in response to ordering a machine of the communicationsenvironment, said report being a direct input to the automaticallymapping.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing asanother input to the automatically mapping a logical definition of theresource, said logical definition comprising the second identifier. 11.The method of claim 1, wherein an output of the automatically mapping isan input/output control program statement that includes the firstidentifier.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing theinput/output control program statement to a hardware configurationdefinition to be used to produce an input/output configuration data setusable by the communications environment for configuration.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the second identifier is provided to theautomatically mapping via the hardware configuration definition.
 14. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the automatically mapping comprisesperforming one or more selective validations on data input to theautomatically mapping.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein theautomatically mapping is performed to change a configured communicationsenvironment.
 16. A mapping tool comprising: a first input comprising oneor more physical definitions, said one or more physical definitionscomprising one or more physical identifiers of one or more resources ofa communications environment; a second input comprising one or morelogical definitions, said one or more logical definitions comprising oneor more logical identifiers of one or more resources of thecommunications environment; and mapping logic to map a physicalidentifier of the one or more physical identifiers to a logicalidentifier of the one or more logical identifiers, wherein the physicalidentifier is used by hardware of the communications environment toidentify a resource associated with the physical identifier and thelogical identifier is used by a program of the communicationsenvironment to identify the resource.
 17. The mapping tool of claim 16,wherein the mapping logic comprises select logic to select the physicalidentifier to be mapped to the logical identifier, wherein the selectlogic takes into consideration a definition associated with the logicalidentifier.
 18. The mapping tool of claim 17, wherein the select logictakes into consideration the availability of the one or more resourcesin selecting the physical identifier to be mapped to the logicalidentifier.
 19. The mapping tool of claim 16, wherein the first inputcomprises a report generated by an order process, said report being adirect input to the mapping tool.
 20. The mapping tool of claim 16,wherein the mapping logic comprises validation logic to perform one ormore validations associated with the mapping.
 21. The mapping tool ofclaim 20, wherein a validation of the one or more validations comprisesa check of whether a definition associated with the logical identifieris compatible with the resource identified by the physical identifier.22. The mapping tool of claim 16, wherein the mapping logic provides atleast one of a manual function and an automatic function.
 23. Themapping tool of claim 22, wherein the mapping logic provides the manualfunction and the automatic function, and wherein a user can alternatebetween the manual function and the automatic function.
 24. The mappingtool of claim 22, wherein the mapping logic is operating in a manualmode, and wherein a panel is displayed for manual mapping, said panelfailing to display one or more logical definitions unavailable formapping.
 25. The mapping tool of claim 16, comprising a third input,said third input comprising one or more saved logical definitions havingone or more logical identifiers.
 26. A system of facilitatingconfiguring of resources of a communications environment, said systemcomprising: means for automatically mapping a first identifier of aresource of a communications environment to a second identifier of theresource, wherein the first identifier is usable by hardware to identifythe resource and the second identifier is usable by a program of thecommunications environment to identify the resource.
 27. The system ofclaim 26, wherein the means for automatically mapping comprises meansfor automatically selecting the first identifier to be mapped to thesecond identifier from a plurality of first identifiers, wherein theselecting takes into consideration a definition associated with thesecond identifier.
 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the selectingtakes into consideration the availability of a plurality of resourcesassociated with the plurality of first identifiers in selecting thefirst identifier to be mapped to the second identifier.
 29. An articleof manufacture comprising: at least one computer usable medium havingcomputer readable program code logic to manage configuring of resourcesof a communications environment, the computer readable program logiccomprising: mapping logic to automatically map a first identifier of aresource of a communications environment to a second identifier of theresource, wherein the first identifier is usable by hardware to identifythe resource and the second identifier is usable by a program of thecommunications environment to identify the resource.
 30. The article ofmanufacture of claim 29, wherein the mapping logic comprises selectlogic to automatically select the first identifier to be mapped to thesecond identifier from a plurality of first identifiers, wherein theselect logic takes into consideration a definition associated with thesecond identifier.